What was your most rememberable wine?

Ah, but there is a Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. There seems, however, to be no connection between the chateau and the pirate Jean Lafitte.

[David M. Bueker]

I just hope we can settle on a single spelling for this non-word. Is it rememberable or rememerable?

I think I will stick to memorable.

'78 Latour. As with Dale, it's the first one that just blew me away on more levels than I thought existed. It was enjoyed with my family during the Christmas season, so that made it all the better.

There are so many wines that were incredibly formative and that served as distinct stepping-stones in my journey, which is only eight years old. Just a few that come to mind:

Jadot, Corton-Charlemagne, 2000 and Chambertin Clos de Beze, 2001 - on the same night, sparked my love for Burgundy.

Ygay and La Rioja Alta, 890, 1989 - drunk a few years apart, but both served to set my expectations for great, old school Riojas.

Artadi, El Pison, 2001 - which set my expectations for great, new school Riojas.

Cheval Blanc, 1986 - my first experience with a mature Bordeaux from a great Chateau.

Domecq, Palo Cortado, Capucino - the greatest Sherry I'd ever drunk, a Grand Cru of a Sherry!

Gouges, Nuit St. Georges 1er Cru, Clos des Porrets-St-Georges, 2006 - already deeply infatuated with Bourgogne, this wine made me a fool for Nuits, of all things.

Moreau-Naudet, Chablis Grand Cru, Valmur, 2002 - first mature Chablis GC. A few years earlier, a Raveneau/Dauvissat tasting had similarly rocked my world with younger wines.

Rene Rostaing, Cote Blonde, 1999
Chateau Haut-Brion, 1990
Chateau Lafite, 1990
Unico, 1986

These four were the highlights of my greatest wine evening yet.

It would take a separate post to list my memorable German wines - hell, even Donnhoff would fill a page, so I'll just note my first German wine ever (alas, I started fairly high): Basserman Jordan, Pfalz, Deidesheimer Kieselberg, Riesling Auslese, 1990.

I know this will sound strange, but everything that makes a wine memorable involves a whole lot more than just the wine. The people you are with, the food, the time of the year, even the humidity, but for what ever reason one wine stands out for me at a dinner with friends, and it was the '98 Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Just seemed to be as close to perfection as I have been. Been close to it many time since, but Bordeaux lovers will understand what I'm talking about. Top notch Bdx seems to fall into a groove that is what Bdx is all about. Burgundy can do the same thing. It is not a matter of points, but a certain ethereal experience that only a superb wine can deliver. It is what all wine lovers live for!

Ha ha I can’t remember my most memorable wine! But I can remember what I learned from it. It was a Ridge zin, 1988 or thereabouts, that I drank in 1999. It was a wine I’d drunk before, and I was struck by how different—and in this case, better—it was than the wine of memory. It fixed in my mind that ageing wine was actually worth the trouble. It’s been a lot of trouble, but I still treasure the memory. And I’ve got a 12-year vertical of Lytton Springs and Geyserville in my cellar.

1947 Marc Bredif Vouvray. Only got a small taste, but it was sublime!

First choice - without question, the 1983 Chateau Margaux. Served with Christmas dinner (prime rib roast) several years ago.

Second choice - Greek Retsina, for the same reasons as the Margaux, just the opposite end of the spectrum.

The most memorable, though by no means the best, was a 1795 Barbeito Terrantez Madeira tasted at my wine club's 1995 Christmas party.

An amusing sidelight to that wine was that one of the other club directors, who is also a member of a Madeira tasting club that had just had their own Christmas party, was approached by someone who commented how good the wine was. Bill replied "well, it's not the best 200-year-old Madeira I've had this week, but it's not the worst either".

One epiphany wine tasting (not a full bottle) was a Montrachet back in the early 70's. I don't remember the vintage or the producer but I was alert to the quality of the wine.

Another ephiphany was my first Ridge Lytton Springs.

I was also moved by my first (and so far only) tastings of 2000 Pavie and 2000 Angelus. I have had some terrific German Eiswein but can't recall the specifics since I wasn't always taking notes in those days. Two red Burgundy Grand Cru wines that impressed me were a Raphet Clos de Beze and an Alex Gambal Bonnes Mares (tastings only.) Alex got some Bonnes Mares grapes from a neighbor to see what he could produce from them.

So many over the years...some were:

1953 Château Siran (Margaux) - During dinner at the château in July 2006. This, as well as their 1928, showed me how well a "humble" cru bourgeois can make wine that will last ages.

1955 Château d'Issan (Margaux) - During a dinner at the château in July 2007. Superb, and drinking so youthfully.

1997 Opus One (Napa) - Over dinner with my wife at La Mer in December 2000. We had a table overlooking Waikiki beach. It was the first time I ever tried Opus One. The sommelier recommended it and I, at first, balked and told him it would surely be too young to drink. He reassured me it was fine at that stage - and it was. I bought many bottles of this vintage and quickly finished them with my friends.

1986 Château Montrose (St-Estèphe) - My father had several cases of this and I'd just get bottles from him - one of which I opened on our patio late one night with one of my high school buddies - we spent most of the night reminiscing over all the trouble we got into during our youth. That bottle is most memorable.

1974 Bodegas Contino Reserva (Rioja Alavesa) - During lunch at the winery, hosted by winemaker Jesús de Madrazo, with, among others, baby lamb ribs roasted over vine shoots. It reminded me of a fine, aged Burgundy.

1982 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva (Rioja Alta) - Over dinner with my wife at El Rincon del Vino Logroño (April 2010) with a superb meal. Beautiful with my chuleton. Only 40€ for the bottle at the restaurant.

1990 Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans (Volnay) - During dinner with some friends (2 magnums) sometime in 2005 or 2006. One of the wines that made me delve into the wines of Volnay more deeply. Hauntingly good. I bought several of these, drank them all recently and am always on the look out for more.

1990 Château Cheval Blanc (St-Émilion) - The only "100 pointer" wine I ever made a repeat purchase of. All the others similarly scored, and I've had very many, I never thought were worth the prices I paid for.

So many others.